REASONS FOR BEING ON TIME

 REASONS FOR BEING ON TIME

Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?

Chicago Lyrics

Have you ever noticed that the same people are usually the ones who are always on time? Rarely are they late. There are some reasons for this personality trait. Some people just seem to slide in five minutes late like they are in neutral. Casual. Harmless, even. While others feel emotionally and physically uncomfortable if they are not ten minutes early. It is a feeling as if the clock is working against them.

My husband traveled for his job. Even before all of the hullabaloo of TSA, his motto was always arrive two hours before your flight time. He did this calmly and had no problem waiting in the lobby or at the gates where his flight was to depart. Always had a book with him to read and just waited to be called. Others had comments to make about this behavior, but guess who it was that they called for any type of crisis? Yes! It was him. He just seemed to know what to do calmly, and how to remain free of anxiety. 

Arriving early was not a way to show off or a simple etiquette rule for him or others who are always early. It goes much deeper than good manners. It is a matter of being conscientious. This usually predicts reliability, organization, and follow-through. They tend to always check the traffic before leaving and take into account the parking situations, so that they can build any extra time if necessary. Arriving early is their way of showing responsibility rather than a loose suggestion. It usually links to career success and relationship stability because it predicts consistency. It is less about trying to impress others but about their own internal alignment. If they say they will be there by 7 than by gosh they mean it.

These people experience mild anxiety about letting people down. It feels like a failure of respect to them. It is about monitoring the clock. When they arrive ahead of schedule,, you can see their relief. It is not panic - it is prevention.

Predictability is valued. It means no frantic rushing. No apologies. No scrambling. This does not necessarily mean rigidity. It is a comfort in structure. According to studies, unpredictability shows that cortisol levels are elevated in response to stress and uncertainty. Time becomes a way to create stability. 

Time commitments are always taken seriously. It is like a promise, almost like a contract. Punctuality reflects how strongly a person actually internalizes mutual expectations. It becomes an agreement. It lets the other person know that their schedule matters, and it communicates reliability.

Thinking ahead is key to being three steps ahead. A person like this tends to automatically visualize future obstacles, such as traffic jams, delays, or parking confusion. To them, walking into a room late makes them feel very awkward. Mentally rehearsing what could go wrong and adjusting the situation to avoid it happening is the key. This is not paranoia - it is foresight.

Are you comfortable waiting when early? Many people despise that feeling of sitting alone in a car. Standing outside a building or being the first one at the restaurant. Chronically punctual people do not. Waiting does not threaten them. It is a safe margin. Research on boredom tolerance suggests that people who can sit in stillness without immediately seeking stimulation often demonstrate stronger self-control overall. 

Unlike the man in the picture above, punctual people who plan ahead feel calm when they are in control. It creates space for error and definitely reduces anxiety. They see reliability as part of their identity. They admire stability and they are aware that it defines them and shapes their behavior. 

Don't believe that automatically being early makes someone virtuous and being late makes someone careless. Just know that patterns matter. This simply reveals a quiet strength that some overlook. They have actually trained their brains that being early produces pleasure, not just approval. 

Does anyone really know what time it is? Does anybody really care?

If you try an experiment of being as punctual as possible for at least two weeks, you may be surprised how stress and anxiety fly out the window and how calm and in control you many feel.